Tag: Salvors

Oil spill clean-up underway on South Africa’s west coast after the weekend break-up of grounded Panama flagged cargo vessel, MV Ultra Galaxy: SAMSA

The grounded MV Ultra Galaxy on its side and fragmented into four (4) pieces after the stormy weather on South Africa’s west coast this past weekend and whose massive ocean water waves resulted in the rapture of onethe caualty vessel’s oil tanks. (Photo: SAMSA)

Pretoria: 30 July 2024

Coastal clean-up operations are ramping up on South Africa’s west coast after an oil-spill caused by the break-up of a grounded Panama-registered general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy due to battering by massive waves associated with a cold front that enveloped the western and northern Cape regions this past weekend, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported on Monday.

According to SAMSA this immediately led to the deployment of the country’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan to mop up the oil spill in the adjoining coastal area, and which entailed the massing of manpower that initially involved some 125 people sourced from the local communities.

The national plan is managed by the country’s interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg), a virtual organisation chaired by the Department of Transport (DoT) and SAMSA, as the co-chair and secretariat.

Launched in 2017, with its membership drawn broadly from across various sectors of society inclusive of State departments, private sector industries as well as non-governmental institutions, it is South Africa’s preparedness forum for joint Government and industry response to oil spills within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5-million km² across the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans.

In a statement on Monday evening SAMSA said: “Clean-up operations continued throughout Monday (29 July 2024) following the oil spill from the grounded Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy.

“Clean-up teams, comprising of salvors and 125 local community members, have been diligently working to remove the oil that washed up onto the beach, covering an area of approximately one kilometre south of the wreck.

“The heavy swells and wind waves assisted in washing the oil onto the immediate beach, preventing any oil from drifting seawards and further down the coastline.

“The clean-up team will be increased tomorrow (Tuesday) as the operation continues throughout the week. The waste will be disposed-off in a responsible manner, as per the incident specific waste management plan. Because the oil has congealed into tar balls, it is making it easier to collect it from the sand.

Reflecting briefly on how the dreaded break-up of the 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel, built in 2008, occured at the weekend, after a couple or so weeks since its grounding on 09 July 2024, while en route to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with fertiliser cargo onboard, and with salvage work having already begun, SAMSA attributed it to bad weather.

Said SAMSA: “Severe and disruptive weather that battered the Western and Northern Cape coastline and over the past three (3) days caused the vessel to break into four (4) sections and one fuel tank ruptured causing an oil spill on to the immediate beach area.”

Meanwhile, with the oil spill mop up phase ramping up, said SAMSA: “Continuous monitoring of the vessel is being conducted through both aerial and surface surveys to track the extent of the spill and its environmental impact.

“The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry, and Fisheries, remains on standby.

Images of the grounded Panama-registered MV Ultra Galaxy as well as the oil soaked part of the coast line on South Africa’s west coast after the stormy weather this past weekend and whose massive ocean waves tore the vessel apart in four (4) places, leading to an oil spill from one of its raptured tanks. (Photos: SAMSA)

“They are planning to set up a temporary stabilization facility in Lamberts Bay to respond swiftly should seabirds become affected by the spill as a precautionary measure. Active salvage work was paused due to the inclement weather and will resume once conditions allow safe access to the wreck.

“Members of the public on the west Coast, from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay, are requested to look out for any debris that may wash up on the beach, such as cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other flotsam.

“Any findings should be reported to SAMSA through the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at 021 938 3300 or 012 938 3303. The public is advised not to attempt to salvage any debris themselves, as proper disposal is crucial to minimize harm to people and the environment,” said SAMSA, further committing to keeping the public updated of developments subject to availability of details.

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Vessels fires put out; investigation into their cause to follow

The MFV Verano, a Russia registered, South Korea owned fishing trawler that caught alight on Wednesday last week a the port of Cape Town has since had the fired put out. An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to commence as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.
The MFV Verano, a Russia registered, South Korea owned fishing trawler that caught alight on Wednesday last week a the port of Cape Town has since had the fired put out. An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to commence as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

Pretoria: 10 November 2016

A fire that consumed a Russia registered fishing trawler, the MFV Verano at the port of Cape Town for seven straight days has finally been put out, a joint operations team tasked with battling the blaze has confirmed.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) also confirmed that another flareup on the bridge of a vessel, the Da Yuan Yu, also docked at the port was also dealt with quickly and successfully on Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the fire on the second vessel had also not yet been established.

Meanwhile, a joint task team tasked with fire onboard the Verano which began last week Wednesday, reported that it had finally subdued the flames at about 6pm on Tuesday.

“All boundary cooling activities are discontinued, though fire services have been placed on standby for any emergencies.The vessel is still listing to starboard but remains stable. The appointed Salvors have fully mobilized on site. Daily operational meetings with Salvors continue. The cause of the incident remains undetermined at this stage. The port continues to operate as per normal, with the incident having no further impact on operations,” the statement said.

SAMSA had earlier said an investigation into the cause of the fire on the MFV Verano would get underway as soon as conditions allow.

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